A Friend

   Obadiah 1:11"...even thou wast as one of them."

   'A friend in need, is a friend indeed.'  That is to say when you are in need of something—anything—and someone reaches out to comfort and help you--that is a friend indeed.

   But what about the person who is maybe a 'fair weather friend', or in some other way 'lets you down'? 

   Obadiah 1:11 "In the day that thou stoodest on the other side, in the day that strangers carried away his substance, and foreigners entered into his gates, and cast lots upon Jerusalem,..."

   Edom, descendants of Esau, stood on the other side in the day of 'Judah's' calamity.  Judah, of course was a descendant of Jacob, Esau's twin brother.  God pronounces a 'woe' on them for not only standing on the other side, but helping against Judah (and even enjoying) in their time of trouble.

   Several things happen when we have difficult situations.  We can find out who our true friends are.  Psalm 41:9 speaks of: "Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me."

   And John, in chapter 6:70, shows how it came to pass as Jesus says: "Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil?  71)  He spake of Judas Iscariot the son of Simon: for he it was that should betray him,..."

   Judas Iscariot, one who had eaten, walked, lived in Jesus presence for three years, learning from the Master--then betrayed him.  Jesus knew this would happen.  Still, it was difficult to bear.  Difficult as Jesus tried to teach him, tried to encourage him to do right, difficult as he saw him making wrong choices, wrong turns in his life.  Difficult when he slipped away, making the final choices from which there was no turning back. 

   But wait, what did Jesus die for? He died, as a sacrifice, that we would all have a friend, an advocate with the father. Today, in our  society people allude to the idea that we are all going to heaven just taking different paths, but"If we can all find our own road to heaven," a talk show host said, “(implied here is the thought that 'we are all going to heaven, just taking different routes.  This used to mean 'all who professed to be Christians', but now means everyone who practices 'a religion' of any sort.)  "if we can all find our own road to heaven, it would be like Jesus went through the agony of the cross for nothing.  God had his son die for nothing.  Why, if I was Jesus I'd say, 'Thanks alot Pop.  I hung on that cross...and bled to death...for nothing.  I was spat upon, and beaten...for nothing." 

1Timothy 6:12 "Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses."

Hebrews 10:23 "Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)"

   It is popular to believe that we are all finding our own way, but that talk show host was right in what he said.  It is popular because then you can 'do your own thing' and it all comes out right.  The problem is--it may be popular...but it isn't true.  Other wise Jesus died...for nothing.  So, when we get to 'the pearly gates', will we have been a friend to Jesus, or will he look out at us and say, "Who are you?"  Or as the scriptures put it: Matthew 7:23 "And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity."

  Let us lay hold on life eternal, let us make Jesus' sacrifice worth every drop of blood...let's make it worth what it is...everything.   Hallelujah!  What a Saviour!